Chapter 6- Let The Games Begin

Locked in a dungeon, lying on a bed of straw, a raven-haired man was stirring.

'Ginny…'

His eyes drifted open, and he blinked. After a second his surroundings were clear. The room was made of stone, and there were bars on the door. The only light came from a flickering light-bulb. He knew that the minute that light-bulb died he would be cast into complete darkness. He felt around in his pockets for his wand. Naturally, it was gone.

The minute that light went out he would be help-less. Lost in the darkness and unable to defend himself should something come. Was that the hissing of a snake that he heard? Or was it his imagination? He looked around at the rest of the cell, seeing nothing but dust.

He stood up, moving towards the barred door, trying to see down the corridor. There were no lights lit there, and he couldn't see a thing. Was there another cell next to him? Was it possible that Ginny/his/ Ginny, was in the room next to him, fear clearly visible in her bright brown eyes?

What if she was being tortured? She was pregnant, and even if no physical harm was done to her, prolonged exposure to curses and weapons could result in a miscarriage… he closed his eyes, trying not to imagine what she could be going through. He had come for her. He had tried to fight off the men, the men who had ambushed him, but one well placed stunner and he was down, powerless to rescue his wife.

He knew that if the child was lost it would break her heart. It would break his heart. If he lost them both… nearly losing Ginny was frightening enough, but losing both Ginny and his child…

'Don't think about that!'

He couldn't think about that. Thinking about it would weaken him…Ginny would be fine. His unborn child would be fine. They just had to be fine. He had promised her that nothing would happen. He had promised… and look at what had happened. Now they were both trapped. The door opened and he jumped back. A man in long black robes entered.

"David wants you now. Come on."

Harry frowned, but he had no choice but to cooperate. He had to, for Ginny's sake.

Bethany was shocked to find herself in a large bedroom; it was lavishly decorated and clearly belonged to someone of great wealth. She screamed when she looked down to find that she was wearing nothing more than an extremely short silk nightgown, as opposed to her long cotton one. Where was she?

She got off of the bed, staring down at the black satin covers. She moved to the one mirror in the room, surprised to find that her hair had been curled and was now shining. She ran her fingers through it. It felt like it was made of silk. What was going on?

She could remember vague things. A whisper, a brush of someone's lips against her own, a handsome face and a mocking voice… the door at the far side of the room opened and she jumped slightly, turning to face the arrival.

"Well, the angel has finally awoken. How did you sleep Bethany? Or may I call you Beth?"

She merely nodded to the man, staring at his face. It was the face she remembered, handsome and defined… his voice was silky, and she found herself getting lost in his eyes and voice. Then her senses caught up with her, and bits and pieces of her memory fluttered back.

"You kidnapped me!"

David nodded, bowing his head.

"Yes, I did. But it was only because I could not have gotten to you any other way. You parents hardly would have approved of me. You see, while they keep you sheltered from the world you belong in, they keep in touch with it, and they know who I am…"

Bethany looked at him, backing away slowly.

"Who are you? What do you mean?"

The man smiled at her.

"David Thorne, at your service. I have been searching for you for quite some time."

Bethany looked to him.

"Why were you searching for me?"

David smiled once more.

"I needed your help. Tell me Beth… do you like this room? Do you like the way your hair has been arranged, and how soft it is?"

Slowly, Beth nodded and David held out his hand.

"I can give you those things Beth. Those things and many more… many more. You could have someone assigned to you in order to do up your hair, to have your dresses made with you in mind, using your ideas and designs… even your parents can't offer you those things. I'm a wealthy man Beth. Wealthy but lonely. With your help, I won't be lonely anymore, and you can take control of anything you want… anything at all."

Bethany shivered as he whispered these things into her ear, and she looked up at him.

"What do I have to do?"

A smile formed on David's lips as he led her from the room. It seemed that things were finally going right.

Ginny awoke with a start in the middle of a large room. She was now bound to a large stone, dressed in rags with her hair falling haphazardly over her face. She tried to move her arms, only to have a piece of metal cutting into her wrist and she cried out in pain.

Where was Harry? Surely he would have been here by now? Surely he would have come and found her? Why wasn't he here yet? She instinctively struggled against her bindings once more, another cry escaping her when the pain in her wrists increased. She looked around.

The room was nearly as large as the Great Hall at Hogwarts had been, though there was no hint of warmth in this area. The floors were made of stone, the walls were made of stone, and the ceiling was stone as well. Ginny shivered slightly. It was a cold place, and the whole area was flickering, the only lights coming form the many torches burning on the walls.

A door opened and Ginny breathed a sigh of relief as Harry was led in. She might still be trapped, but at least she knew that he was alright. Upon a second glance around she realized that there was another large stone next to her, it was empty, awaiting the person it would hold. She looked back to Harry, but didn't dare cry out.

Another door opened and this time she bit her lip. David had arrived, and the girl was with him. What was her name? Ginny thought she had heard David call her Bethany. David's hand was tight around Bethany's and Bethany looked slightly puzzled, yet pleased. What had happened to the girl whose eyes had been burning so clearly with fear as David addressed her?

Ginny watched as the girl was grabbed and bound to the next stone and someone kept Harry back, watching the scene as though he was going to be sick. David looked at them, then back at Harry.

"We're going to play a game Potter. I'm going to give you back your wand after you play, and then you'll be free to go. I'm not even going to touch you. That is, if you're willing to play the game with me."

David sneered at Harry.

"If you choose not to play, I'll kill your wife right now. Then I'll lock you up again, leaving you to live with the memory of your wife's death… and no, I won't kill her with a spell. It'll be much more fun to do it differently."

All eyes in the room grew wide as David pulled out a dagger.

"I'll do it the hard way. You'll hear her screaming in pain, and nothing you do will be able to help her. Now, will you play?"

Harry looked to Ginny, then back at David.

"Alright. I'll play."

David sneered again.

"Lovely. Let the games begin."